Healthy Choices E-News
Helping you make healthy choices for life
June 2005
Welcome
to this month's edition of the Healthy Choices newsletter
and a special welcome to our new subscribers.
Each
month we feature up-to-date information on health issues that may affect you
and your family. We also look at one of
our many product ranges; provide details of our latest special offers plus
give you a chance to win one of the products from our toxin-free range.
This
month’s main article is about Hayfever as June is the time of year when most
people are affected. We ran this
article last year but as we have had so many new subscribers since then, I
thought it would be worth running this revised version in case any of you
suffer.
Our
Exclusive Offer of the Month provides you with a helpful blend of
aromatherapy oils which aid anyone suffering from hayfever or allergy symptoms.
Do
remember to enter our competition this month if you live in the UK or Europe. This
month's prize offers a toxin-free toothpaste which is proving to be very
effective in the fight against tooth decay – just ask my dentist!
I
hope you find this month's newsletter interesting and informative. If you
have any suggestions for future articles, I'd be happy to hear from you.
Best
wishes
Sue
Bedford
RGN
Diploma in Nutrition
Contents:
·
Hayfever – Tips to reduce the misery
·
Health Bites
·
NEWAYS Aromatherapy range
·
June's Special Offers
·
Competition – chance to win a 50ml tube
of UltraShine Radiance toothpaste from the Dental
Care range
·
Useful Websites
·
Neways Direct Customer Account
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Hay Fever- Tips to reduce the misery
If you suffer from hay fever, this time of year can be
really miserable but you are not alone.
It is estimated that up to 25% of the population suffers from hay fever,
although the name “hay fever” is actually incorrect. The condition is caused by weeds that pollinate during the
hay-mowing season, but not by the hay itself.
Ragweed pollen accounts for about 75% of hay fever cases. The medical
term is “allergic rhinitis” and some people suffer this condition at other
times of the year if they are allergic to other pollens from trees or from
mould spores.
The common symptoms are:
·
a runny nose
·
an itchy nose
·
sneezing
· a blocked nose
·
watery, itchy eyes
These symptoms are not life threatening but as hay fever
is caused by an allergic reaction to pollens, it indicates that the immune
system is over-reacting to histamine, a chemical that the body releases to
fight invaders such as bacteria and viruses.
This is why some of the symptoms are similar to having a cold and also
why medical treatments often include drugs called “anti-histamines” to reduce
the symptoms.
If you would like to reduce your symptoms, there are a
number of things which may help before turning to medication.
Stay indoors – this may be a bit drastic but on days when the pollen count is high,
staying indoors with the windows and doors shut should reduce your exposure to
pollen. If you have the luxury of
air-conditioning this should be easier to do.
A good quality air filter may also help. If you must go out, the worst times are first thing in the
morning and early evening when plants release pollen into the air.
Dry your clothes indoors – hanging your clothes outside to dry will allow pollen to stick to the
clothes and may cause a reaction later when you wear them. If drying indoors is a problem, then avoid
hanging them outside in the early morning and evening when there is more pollen
in the air.
Cool compress for eyes - if you have sore, red eyes, lie down for 20 minutes with a cool compress over your eyes made from cotton pads soaked in rosewater, eyebright or cold chamomile tea.
Aromatherapy - try steam inhalations containing a
few drops of essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender or pine to
clear congestion. All available from www.healthychoices.ukhq.co.uk/UKStore/Aromatherapy.html.
Herbal remedies – a number of herbs have been found to help sufferers of hay
fever. The following may reduce
symptoms but should not be regarded as medical advice.
Nasaleze – is a
product that may be purchased over the internet which is an effective
alternative to over-the-counter medication. It consists of an inert cellulose
powder which you spray up each nostril.
When Nasaleze comes in contact with the moisture in the nose, it turns
into a thin gel which mimics natural mucus.
This helps to prevent germs and allergens reaching the lungs and
eliminates, or reduces the symptoms of hayfever or other airborne
allergies. See Useful Websites at the end of this newsletter
for details.
If you find that your symptoms
require something more potent, then medication from your doctor or pharmacist
may be your only option. Today, many of the drugs now available to treat hay fever
are less likely to cause drowsiness than those available a few years ago. They
are mainly anti-histamines, cortico-steroids applied topically as a nasal
spray, eye drops and decongestants.
Taken on a short-term basis during the hay fever season, these medicines
are unlikely to cause harm to health.
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Health Bites
Chillis & Broccoli in the
fight against Cancer
The role diet and nutrition have been
playing on cancer risk, prevention and treatment has been a major focus of
research, as certain nutrients in vegetables and dietary agents have been found
to protect the body against diseases such as cancer.
According to a pair of studies by
scientists at the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, vegetables such
as broccoli and spices like red chilli pepper may provide a cancer-fighting
benefit by slowing or preventing the growth of tumour cells.
Despite advances in surgery and
other therapies, the findings looked at the effect of these dietary agents on
cancers - ovarian and pancreatic - that have poor prognoses.
The first study examined the
potential of capsaicin, the ingredient in red chilli pepper often associated
with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties: Researchers found
capsaicin exhibited anticancer activity (it induced programmed cell death to
human cancer cells without affecting normal cells) against pancreatic cancer,
an aggressive form of the disease typified by exceptionally poor outcomes.
The second study examined the
therapeutic benefits of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a compound found in
cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, on ovarian cancer, a disease often
detected at an advanced stage and one of the leading causes of gynaecological
cancer-related deaths among women.
After ovarian cancer cells were exposed to PEITC for 24 hours,
researchers found the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which
spurs the growth of ovarian cancer cells, was significantly inhibited.
Source: Innovations-Report April
20, 2005
Prostate Cancer: Radiation therapy can lead to rectal cancer
Radiation is a popular treatment for men with
prostate cancer, and it's becoming the first choice therapy ahead of surgery, especially
among older patients. Latest statistics
suggest it is being used in 17 per cent of all cases, a figure that's been
rising over the last 20 years. But a new study reveals that the therapy
increases the risk of rectal cancer in 70 per cent of cases, and men who have
radiation treatment are 1.7 times more likely to develop rectal cancer. Overall, every 10 men from a group of 1,000
who had radiation therapy went on to develop rectal cancer.
This worrying trend came to light only when researchers reviewed
the data collected by the US National Cancer Institute from 1973 to 1994 on
85,000 men. The men had prostate
cancer, but there was no evidence to suggest they had colorectal cancer, or had
any previous history of the disease.
The research team found
that the men were exposed to "a significant risk" of rectal cancer
that was equivalent to having a parent who had colon cancer.
Source: Gastroenterology, 2005; 128: 819-24
Fractures: High-dose vitamin D is a preventative
Most nutritionists argue that conventional medicine just doesn't get
nutrition. The RDA levels are far too
low to be effective, and yet it's usually the marker used by researchers when
assessing the effectiveness of vitamins.
As a result, the study is usually negative.
So it's interesting to see what happens when researchers on
the rare occasion actually test vitamins at a level that nutritionists would
recognize as reasonable. Nutritionists argue that vitamin D can help prevent
fracture, but it's been hard to find studies that support their belief, obvious
though it may seem.
A research team from Harvard School of Public Health tested
the theory by reassessing the data collected from 12 studies that involved a
total of 19,114 recruits who were at least 60 years of age.
The researchers
discovered that vitamin D was not a preventative at standard RDA levels of
around 400 ius, but it started to work wonders among participants who were
given between 700 and 800 ius, double the recommended level. The risk of hip fracture fell by 26 per
cent, and by 23 per cent for non-vertebral fracture, among those given the
higher dose, while the risk was not reduced among those taking the 400 iu
level.
Source: Journal
of the American Medical Association, 2005; 293: 2257-64
TB and measles
According to the latest figures, TB rates are falling and deaths from measles
are not on the increase as we have been led to believe. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us that, in 2004, rates of TB fell by 3.3
per cent on the previous year, and incidence of TB is now at its lowest level
recorded since records began in 1953.
A combined review on measles, by the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), looked at
the statistics from 45 countries and discovered that deaths from measles fell
by 39 per cent in 2003 compared with rates for 1999.
Source: Journal of
the American Medical Association, 2005; 293: 2205-6
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NEWAYS Aromatherapy Range
If you’ve ever breathed the
sweet basalmic scent of pine and thought of Christmas, or inhaled the rich
aroma of vanilla and been reminded of home-baked biscuits, then you’ve
experienced the power of aroma to conjure memories and create mood. Not only
can smells alter your emotional state, but they can actually support your
physical health as well.
Essential
oils, those oils distilled from parts of plants and trees, enable you to
harness the power of fragrance through the science of aromatherapy. Essential
oils enhance emotional and mental health along with physical wholeness, and you
can experience this amazing approach to holistic health with Neways’ Essential
Oils.
You can
find out about these products by clicking on the following links:
UK – http://www.healthychoices.ukhq.co.uk/UKStore/Aromatherapy.html
Europe - http://www.healthychoices.ukhq.co.uk/EuroStore/Aromatherapy.html
US &
Canada - http://www.ineways.com/usa/index.asp?Site=healthy-choices
and click on Products
Postage and Packing Rates
£1 - £14.99: £3; £15 - £29.99: £4; £30 -
£49.99: £5; £60 and over: Free
€40 - €84.99: €8; €85 and over: Free
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(Available to residents
of the UK & Europe, only)
Family Sun Care Pack
This pack is great value for money and
provides the essential sun care products for a safe family holiday in the
sun. All products are safe for babies from 6 months old.
The pack includes:
Lipceutical 10.5ml
Sunbrero Sun Cream125ml
Rebound After Sun 125ml
Normally £32.63/ €49.13 + p&p
Special Offer Price: £28/ €43.50 + p&p
Promotion Code for Postal or Telephone Orders: JUN 1
Credit card orders may be placed
by clicking on: www.healthychoices.ukhq.co.uk/UKStore/0605.html or www.healthychoices.ukhq.co.uk/EuroStore/0605.html
Postage and Packing Rates
£1 - £14.99: £3; £15 - £29.99: £4; £30 - £49.99: £5; £60
and over: Free
€40 - €84.99: €8; €85 and over: Free
** Exclusive to E-News
Subscribers **
(Available to residents
of the UK & Europe, only)
Hayfever Aromatherapy Pack
This exclusive offer
for E-News subscibers only is great value for money and includes a
healthy blend of eight essential oils carefully chosen for their ability to
assist with maintaining the respiratory and immune systems. The blend is
composed of eucalyptus, lemon, tea tree, lavandin, lavender, and peppermint,
pine and thyme essential oils which may be used as a steam inhalation, through
a diffuser or an aromatherapy oil burner to ease symptoms of hayfever.
Normally £18.09/ €27.02 + p&p
Special Offer Price: £15.00/ €22.00 + p&p
Promotion Code for Postal or Telephone Orders: JUN 2
Credit card orders may be placed
by clicking on: www.healthychoices.ukhq.co.uk/UKStore/0605.html or www.healthychoices.ukhq.co.uk/EuroStore/0605.html
Postage and Packing Rates
£1 - £14.99: £3; £15 - £29.99: £4; £30 - £49.99: £5; £60
and over: Free
€40 - €84.99: €8; €85 and over: Free
Offers end on 5th July
2005.
See next month’s issue for more
offers.
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* Competition *
(Available to residents
of the UK & Europe, only)
Answer the
question below and you could be the winner of a 50ml tube of UltraShine
Radiance toothpaste worth
£4.11/€6.15. Ultrashine
Radiance combines safe, effective ingredients with
gentle cleaning power for great oral hygiene.
Brushing with peppermint flavoured UltraShine Radiance leaves
your mouth feeling tingly fresh.
Xylitol, casein and stabilised chlorine dioxide gently and safely break
down food particles without the need for any harsh abrasives.
Question: Which source of
pollen is believed to account for up to 75% of hayfever cases:
a) Trees?
b) Mould spores?
c) Ragweed?
E-mail your answer to competition@healthychoices.co.uk
and put your answer in the Subject line. Closing date is
5th July. Should there be more than one
correct entry, the winner will be chosen at random.
May’s Competition Winner: Elaine
from Hawick in Scotland.
Congratulations Elaine. The correct answer was b) When
someone who is very ill starts to have symptoms of a healing reaction their
symptoms will be more severe.
You should receive your prize of a
50ml bottle of Barrier Cream, shortly.
*************************************************************************************
At
Healthy Choices, we frequently come across websites which we
believe you may find interesting and useful.
Here are 3 sites:
Nasaleze
This website contains some helpful
information about the symptoms of hayfever and
other allergies. It explains the benefits of using
a natural nasal spray to relieve the common symptoms of
allergies with testimonials and studies.
This article is on the Daily Mail newspaper website and
points out the dangers of certain chemicals called phthalates found in plastics
and personal care products. These
chemicals do not have to appear on the labels.
Rest assured – Neways products are guaranteed to be phthalate free.
What
age are your arteries?
This
website gives information about a new medical device called a CardioTrack which
can determine the age of your arteries.
It simply clips onto your index finger and through painless, infra-red
technology, gives an accurate reading of the stiffness of your arteries. As we age, our arteries begin to
stiffen. If they stiffen prematurely,
that may indicate that they are furring up and lead to cardiovascular disease.
Early detection means that simple lifestyle changes can slow down or prevent
heart disease. This machine can pick up early signs even before high blood
pressure is detected. If you would like
to have a test, you can find details of your nearest practitioner on the
website.
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Neways Direct
Customer Account
Neways have just introduced a
new account called “Neways Direct Customer” for anyone wishing to purchase
their products at up to 30% less than the retail prices. This is currently only
available in the UK but Ireland and Europe should be included soon. This account
replaces the previous Direct or Wholesale Account and has many advantages.
The biggest advantage is
that postage and packing is free so you do not have to place large orders to
balance out the cost of delivery.
Neways have dedicated a
separate phone line for Direct Customers and you should shortly
be able to order from a separate part of the Neways website if
you prefer online ordering. It costs
just £5 to open the account and that covers the cost of an Introductory pack
which explains how to place orders etc.
As a Neways Direct
Customer, you will not be able to sell the products on to anyone else,
nor receive any bonus cheques but if you decide to become a Distributor at a
later date, it is simple to upgrade your account.
If you are currently
registered as a wholesale buyer, purchasing the products occasionally for
yourself and your family only, you may wish to close your wholesale account and
open this new type of account to take advantage of the free postage. The products will cost slightly more than
the wholesale price + VAT but not very much more. To do this, you need to write
to Neways resigning your distributorship, then contact me to ask for the
necessary forms and price list to open the Direct Customer Account.
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If
you have any comments about Healthy Choices E-News or suggestions
for topics to be included in future issues, please send an e-mail to: healthychoices@ecoworld.co.uk
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Healthy Choices
is an Independent Distributor of Neways products
Tel
No UK: 0845 6442819
Outside
UK: +44 1234 851318
e-mail:
healthychoices@ecoworld.co.uk
website: http://www.healthychoices.co.uk
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